scholarly journals Metal Mobility in Afforested Sites of an Abandoned Zn-Pb Ore Mining Area

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (17) ◽  
pp. 6041
Author(s):  
Urszula Aleksander-Kwaterczak ◽  
Dariusz Ciszewski
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Mineralogical Composition ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Metal Mobility ◽  
Carbonate Content ◽  
Soil Horizons ◽  
Litter Cover ◽  
Mobile Forms ◽  
Secondary Enrichment

Heaps of waste material constitute a serious environmental problem in regions where the historical exploitation and processing of metal ores has taken place. The presented paper describes the trace metal distribution in selected heaps in the lead-zinc mining area of an abandoned mine in Poland, as well as the soil horizons beneath. The study aims at the estimation of the metal remobilization rate in vertical profiles in the spontaneously afforested area in the context of the potential danger it poses to the local groundwater. Individual samples were taken from profiles dug in heaps found in deciduous and coniferous forests. The bulk density, pH, organic matter and carbonate content, as well as the concentration and chemical forms of metals were analysed. Buffer properties and the mineralogical composition were also determined for the selected samples. The investigation indicates excessive cadmium, zinc and lead concentrations in the analysed heap material and the significant secondary enrichment of former soil horizons. A large percentage of these metals occur in potentially mobile forms. It suggests that, despite the high pH of the heap material and the good buffer properties of soil, cadmium and to a lesser extent, zinc, has migrated downwards to depths of at least several dozen centimetres over a period of about 200 years. This is related to soil acidity, particularly in profiles abundant in organic matter resulting from the encroachment of forest communities, particularly of coniferous forest. Spontaneous afforestation forming the litter cover contribute to the stabilization of the heap material and limiting groundwater pollution. Even though specific remediation measures are not needed in this area, it requires long-term monitoring.

Alternative energy resources in Lithuania - shale gas perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saulius Lozovskis ◽  
Saulius Šliaupa ◽  
Jurga Lazauskienė ◽  
Rasa Šliaupienė
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Clay Fraction ◽  
Mineralogical Composition ◽  
Brittleness Index ◽  
Carbonate Content ◽  
Capillary Suction ◽  
Lower Silurian ◽  
The Impact

<p>In Worlds practice it is known that shale gas can be viable source of energy. Lithuania is situated in the central and eastern parts of the pericratonic Baltic Sedimentary Basin. The Lower Silurian shales are considered as a most prospective formation for gas exploration due to high amount of organic matter (more than 2%) and large thickness (120-200 m). Mineralogical composition and related petrophysical and mechanical properties were assessed for west Lithuanian shales that occur at the depths of 1500-2000 m. Thermal maturity of organic matter Tmax ranges from 432 to 455<sup>o</sup>C (oil window). Shales contain 37–57% of clay minerals. Illite predominates and chlorite is less abundant mineral. Quartz and feldspars compose about 35–45% of shale volume. The carbonate content ranges from 1% to 28%. TOC content is about 2%, while interpretation of well logs show higher average amount of TOC ranging from 2.5 to 8%. The Middle Llandovery “hot” shales of 4-11m thick show anomalous TOC content up to 20%. The mineral brittleness index was calculated to range mainly from 0.35 to 0.40 (bellow the lower exploitation limit), while logging brittleness index varies from 0.40 to 0.60 (good quality). This difference is explained by logging coverage of the whole Lower Silurian section by contrast to selective drill coring of wells. The bulk porosity decreases with depth from 16% to 3% (linear correlation Depth=-0.0107×Porosity+25.7). The low cation exchange capacity (0.2-8.8 meq/100g) is accounted to specific mineral composition. The low erodibility (Roller Oven technique) is related to high shale compaction. The capillary suction time method was used to estimate the swelling capacity of shales. Rather low values are explained in terms of predominance of illite in clay fraction and high amount of detrital grains. In summary, the exploitation parameters estimated for west Lithuanian shales are classified as good and excellent and can be used to minimize the impact on the environment.</p>

HEAVY METAL SPECIATION IN BOTTOM SEDIMENTS OF THE VYSHNEVOLOTSKY RESERVOIR

2018 ◽  
pp. 46-54
Author(s):  
O. A. Lipatnikova
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Bottom Sediments ◽  
Metal Speciation ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Water Reservoir ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Heavy Metal Speciation ◽  
Mobile Forms ◽  
Manganese Hydroxides

The study of heavy metal speciation in bottom sediments of the Vyshnevolotsky water reservoir is presented in this paper. Sequential selective procedure was used to determine the heavy metal speciation in bottom sediments and thermodynamic calculation — to determine ones in interstitial water. It has been shown that Mn are mainly presented in exchangeable and carbonate forms; for Fe, Zn, Pb и Co the forms are related to iron and manganese hydroxides is played an important role; and Cu and Ni are mainly associated with organic matter. In interstitial waters the main forms of heavy metal speciation are free ions for Zn, Ni, Co and Cd, carbonate complexes for Pb, fulvate complexes for Cu. Effects of particle size and organic matter content in sediments on distribution of mobile and potentially mobile forms of toxic elements have been revealed.

Particle Size Effects on Concentration of Metals in Lake Erie Bottom Sediments

1984 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alena Mudroch
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Clay Minerals ◽  
Surface Sediment ◽  
Size Effects ◽  
Lake Erie ◽  
Size Fraction ◽  
Mineralogical Composition ◽  
Major Elements ◽  
Sediment Samples

Abstract Surface sediment samples obtained at the offshore and nearshore area of Lake Erie were separated into eight different size fractions ranging from <2 µm to 250 µm. The concentration of major elements (Si, Al, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Mn and P), metals (Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, V, Co and Pb) and organic matter was determined together with the mineralogical composition and morphology of the particles in each size fraction. The distribution of the metals in the offshore sediment was bimodal with the majority of the metals divided between the 63 to 250 um size fraction which also contained the highest concentration of organic matter (about 20%) and the <4 µm fraction containing up to 60% of clay minerals. However, the metals in the nearshore sediment were associated mainly with the clay minerals.

Distribution of Mercury in Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River Sediments

1989 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alena Mudroch ◽  
K. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
River Sediments ◽  
Size Fraction ◽  
Mineralogical Composition ◽  
Recent Sediment ◽  
Geochemical Composition ◽  
Visual Appearance ◽  
Decaying Wood ◽  
Relationship Of

Abstract Sediment cores were collected in Lake St. Clair in 1985 and in the St. Clair River in 1986 to investigate the horizontal and vertical distribution and association of Hg in the sediments. A layer of recent sediment up to about 35 cm thick was differentiated by the geochemical composition and visual appearance from the underlying glacial-lacustrine deposits. The concentration of Hg in the surficial sediments in Lake St. Clair was lower in 1985 (<0.025 to 1.200 µg/g) than that found in 1974 (<0.20 to 3.00 µg/g). Up to 8.30 µg/g of Hg were found in the sediments collected from the nearshore area at Sarnia, Ontario, in the St. Clair River in 1986. The concentrations of Hg ranged from 5.05 to 16.00 µg/g in different sand-sized fractions (0.063 to 0.350 mm) of the sediment. The concentration of Hg was 17.80 µg/g in the silt-clay size fraction (<0.063 mm). No relationship was found between the concentration of organic matter and Hg, and the concentration of silica and Hg in the St. Clair River sediments. The results indicated a relationship of Hg with particles of different mineralogical composition. Up to 3.72 µg/g Hg was found in the surface sediment in Chenal Ecarte. The greatest concentration of Hg (13.15 µg/g) existed in the 0.350 mm particle size fraction, which consisted mainly of small pieces of decaying wood. A good relationship was found between the concentration of Hg and organic matter in the sediment at this area.

The long-term impact of low-intensity surface fires on litter decomposition and enzyme activities in boreal coniferous forests

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kajar Köster ◽  
Frank Berninger ◽  
Jussi Heinonsalo ◽  
Aki Lindén ◽  
Egle Köster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Enzymatic Activity ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Fire Disturbance ◽  
Coniferous Forests ◽  
Long Term Impact

In boreal forest ecosystems fire, fungi and bacteria, and their interactions, have a pronounced effect on soil carbon dynamics. In this study we measured enzymatic activities, litter decomposition rates, carbon stocks and fungal and microbial biomasses in a boreal subarctic coniferous forest on a four age classes of non-stand replacing fire chronosequence (2, 42, 60 and 152 years after the fire). The results show that microbial activity recovered slowly after fire and the decomposition of new litter was affected by the disturbance. The percent mass loss of Scots pine litter increased with time from the last fire. Slow litter decomposition during the first post-fire years accelerates soil organic matter accumulation that is essential for the recovery of soil biological activities. Fire reduced the enzymatic activity across all the enzyme types measured. Carbon-degrading, chitin-degrading and phosphorus-dissolving enzymes showed different responses with the time elapsed since the fire disturbance. Microbial and enzymatic activity took decades before recovering to the levels observed in old forest stands. Our study demonstrates that slower post-fire litter decomposition has a pronounced impact on the recovery of soil organic matter following forest fires in northern boreal coniferous forests.

Vegetation Effects on Soil Properties in the Monteagle Sandy Loam Series: Implications for Land‐use Change

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Neil
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
The Impact

Soil properties are strongly influenced by the composition of the surrounding vegetation. We investigated soil properties of three ecosystems; a coniferous forest, a deciduous forest and an agricultural grassland, to determine the impact of land use change on soil properties. Disturbances such as deforestation followed by cultivation can severely alter soil properties, including losses of soil carbon. We collected nine 40 cm cores from three ecosystem types on the Roebuck Farm, north of Perth Village, Ontario, Canada. Dominant species in each ecosystem included hemlock and white pine in the coniferous forest; sugar maple, birch and beech in the deciduous forest; grasses, legumes and herbs in the grassland. Soil pH varied little between the three ecosystems and over depth. Soils under grassland vegetation had the highest bulk density, especially near the surface. The forest sites showed higher cation exchange capacity and soil moisture than the grassland; these differences largely resulted from higher organic matter levels in the surface forest soils. Vertical distribution of organic matter varied greatly amongst the three ecosystems. In the forest, more of the organic matter was located near the surface, while in the grassland organic matter concentrations varied little with depth. The results suggest that changes in land cover and land use alters litter inputs and nutrient cycling rates, modifying soil physical and chemical properties. Our results further suggest that conversion of forest into agricultural land in this area can lead to a decline in soil carbon storage.

Long-term effects of fire on the composition and activity of the soil microflora of a subalpine, coniferous forest

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (15) ◽  
pp. 1704-1721 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bissett ◽  
D. Parkinson
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Bacterial Flora ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Soil Microflora ◽  
Subalpine Forest ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Soil Horizons ◽  
Cellulose Decomposition ◽  
Soil Temperatures

The biomass, community composition, and metabolic activity of soil microorganisms were studied in adjacent burnt and unburnt areas of spruce–fir subalpine forest razed 6 years previously by a moderately severe natural fire. Similar levels of microbial biomass were observed at comparable burnt and unburnt sites, although the ratio of fungal to bacterial biomass was higher in the unburnt soils. The decreased acidity of the surface horizons in the burn probably tended to favor the development of a bacterial flora rather than a fungal flora. Microbial biomass in the burnt sites peaked earlier in the season than in the unburnt sites in response to the warmer soil temperatures and earlier thaw in the spring in the burn area.Significant differences in the species composition of the mycoflora in the organic soil horizons were observed between the burnt and unburnt sites. Apparently, these were related to qualitative differences in the recent litter. Phoma, Cladosporium, and Botrytis, which are usually associated with early stages of decomposition of herbaceous litter, were more common in the burnt soil. The mycoflora of the mineral soil horizons varied considerably from one burn site to another, possibly reflecting the geographical variation in the intensity of the burn. In overall composition, however, the mycoflora in the mineral soil horizons of the burn was not appreciably different from that of the unburnt sites.Higher laboratory rates of respiration and cellulose decomposition were observed for soil samples from the undisturbed forest. However, the rate of decomposition of cellulose in the field was much higher in the burnt sites, probably as a result of the higher soil temperatures in the burn area. Low soil temperature was concluded to be the main factor limiting microbial activities in the study area, and the removal of the insulating plant canopy and increased heat absorption by the ash in the burn area were found to increase decomposition rates, at least at this stage in the succession following the disturbance of fire.

scholarly journals Thermal shock and splash effects on burned gypseous soils from the Ebro Basin (NE Spain)

Solid Earth ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. León ◽  
M. Seeger ◽  
D. Badía ◽  
P. Peters ◽  
M. T. Echeverría
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Mineralogical Composition ◽  
Water Retention Capacity ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Natural Factor ◽  
Splash Erosion ◽  
Ebro Valley ◽  
Ne Spain

Abstract. Fire is a natural factor of landscape evolution in Mediterranean ecosystems. The middle Ebro Valley has extreme aridity, which results in a low plant cover and high soil erodibility, especially on gypseous substrates. The aim of this research is to analyze the effects of moderate heating on physical and chemical soil properties, mineralogical composition and susceptibility to splash erosion. Topsoil samples (15 cm depth) were taken in the Remolinos mountain slopes (Ebro Valley, NE Spain) from two soil types: Leptic Gypsisol (LP) in a convex slope and Haplic Gypsisol (GY) in a concave slope. To assess the heating effects on the mineralogy we burned the soils at 105 and 205 °C in an oven and to assess the splash effects we used a rainfall simulator under laboratory conditions using undisturbed topsoil subsamples (0–5 cm depth of Ah horizon). LP soil has lower soil organic matter (SOM) and soil aggregate stability (SAS) and higher gypsum content than GY soil. Gypsum and dolomite are the main minerals (>80%) in the LP soil, while gypsum, dolomite, calcite and quartz have similar proportions in GY soil. Clay minerals (kaolinite and illite) are scarce in both soils. Heating at 105 °C has no effect on soil mineralogy. However, heating to 205 °C transforms gypsum to bassanite, increases significantly the soil salinity (EC) in both soil units (LP and GY) and decreases pH only in GY soil. Despite differences in the content of organic matter and structural stability, both soils show no significant differences (P < 0.01) in the splash erosion rates. The size of pores is reduced by heating, as derived from variations in soil water retention capacity.

scholarly journals MINERALOGY AND ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT OF BOTTOM ASH SAMPLES FROM AGIOS DIMITRIOS POWER PLANT, GREECE

2004 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 320 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Kantiranis ◽  
Α. Georgakopoulos ◽  
A. Fiiippidis ◽  
A. Drakoulis
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Lightweight Concrete ◽  
Inorganic Compounds ◽  
Amorphous Material ◽  
Bottom Ash ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Mineralogical Composition ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Loss On Ignition

Four bottom ash samples from the Power Units of the Agios Dimitrios Power Plant were studied by the method of PXRD to determine their semi-quantitative mineralogical composition. Their organic matter content was calculated by a wet chemical process. Also, the loss on ignition was measured. The samples are constituted mainly of calcite, quartz and feldspars, while micas, clays, gehlenite and portlandite were determined in a few samples in smaller quantities. The amorphous material varied between 10-43 wt. %, while organic matter varied between 5-42 wt. %. Measurements of the loss on ignition overestimate the unburned lignite contents in the bottom ash samples. The management of bottom ashes with high contents of unburned lignite should differ to that of the fly ashes. The oxidation of the inorganic compounds of the unburned lignite may lead to environmental degradation of the landfill areas. Samples showing lower values of organic matter are suitable for a series of uses, such as: snow and ice control, as an aggregate in lightweight concrete masonry units,as a raw feed material for portland cement, as an aggregate in cold mix emulsified asphalt mixes, base or sub-base courses, or in shoulder construction. Systematic study of the unburned lignite of bottom ashes is needed for possible re-combustion.

scholarly journals Mobile Forms of Gold and Pathfinder Elements in Surface Sediments at the Novye Peski Gold Deposit and in the Piilola Prospecting Area (Karelia Region)

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Korshunova ◽  
Marina Charykova
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Surface Sediments ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Total Content ◽  
Fulvic Acids ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Mobile Form ◽  
Mobile Forms ◽  
Pathfinder Elements

The success of prospecting for gold deposit in overburdened areas based on the using of secondary dispersion haloes mostly depends on the chosen method of geochemical survey (sampling horizon, sample preparation for analysis, etc.). At the same time, the geochemistry of gold in the supergene zone is insufficiently studied, especially it’s migration and concentration in association with other elements in surface sediments due to weathering of gold-bearing ore. The main aim of the study presented in this paper is the determination of mobile forms of gold and pathfinder elements (As, Cu, Ni, Ag, Zn, Pb, Se, Sb, Mo, Bi, and Te) in podzol soil and moraine in the areas of Karelia region with known gold mineralization. As a result of conducted experiments it was determined that the main mobile forms of gold are water-soluble and bound to organic matter, while pathfinder elements bound preferably to Fe and Mn(hydr)oxides and to organic matter. As gold and some pathfinders bind with organic matter, this form was considered in more detail, and the elements’ interaction with humic and fulvic acids was investigated. In addition, it was determined that the studied elements are quite “mobile” because the percentage of the mobile form in their total content was mostly more than 50%. The main features of the elements’ migration and concentration were identified in surface sediments of the study areas.

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